TCU
Florida
Frogs fall in OT despite Ross' career-high 38
12/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 16, 2007
GAINESVILLE, Fla.--Adrianne Ross scored a career-high 38 points and TCU overcame a late deficit to force overtime at Florida Sunday, but the Gators prevailed in the extra frame, 80-76, at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.Ross hit 14 of a school-record 29 field goal attempts, including six 3-pointers, while pushing Florida to the limit on its home court. The effort fell only one point shy of the school-record 39 scored by former Lady Frog Amy Sutton against Texas Pan-Am on Dec. 12, 1998 while shattering her previous career high of 26, which she reached twice as a junior in 2006-07.
Ross combined to post 27 points in the second half and overtime on her way to the fourth-highest total among all NCAA Division I players this season.
TCU trailed late in regulation, 69-67, after a pair of free throws by Marshae Dotson gave the Gators the advantage with only 53 seconds remaining. Following two turnovers by the Frogs in the closing minute, Helen Roden was able to force a jump ball off an in-bounds play to return possession to the Frogs. Lorie Butler-Rayford then cashed in a layup off an assist from Ross to even the score with 10 seconds remaining. The game was sent into overtime after TCU forced Florida into a turnover while playing for the final shot.
Ross scored five points in overtime on a pair of free throws and a clutch trey to help give the Frogs a one-point lead at the 1:50 mark, but Florida responded with six consecutive points for a five-point advantage with only 31.6 left on the clock. Knight added a late layup in the closing seconds, but Florida held on for its sixth win in seven home games this season.
In addition to Ross' near-record, she also led the Frogs in rebounds with seven while reaching several career milestones. The Hobbs, N.M., native became only the second player in school history to surpass 500 field goals made in a career and only the seventh Frog to reach 100 career 3-pointers made. She saw the floor for 41 minutes.
Butler-Rayford and Knight each added double-digit efforts for TCU with 10 points each. Helena Sverrisdottir, who posted a team-high five assists, added nine points, while Micaela Younger had six.
Florida hurt TCU throughout the game with its effectiveness on the perimeter, as the squad went 11-of-25 from behind the 3-point arc. Depree Bowden led the Gators with 21 points and five treys, three of which came in the game's first three minutes. Jennifer Mosser hit four threes on her way to 17 points. Florida also held a distince edge in free throws, taking 13 more attempts from the line than the Frogs.
The Purple and White kept itself in the game with an aggressive zone defense that forced Florida into 28 turnovers. Knight collected five steals to lead TCU, which out-scored the Gators 36-20 in points off turnovers.
TCU will have a short turnaround, as it returns to Fort Worth for a Tuesday evening matchup with its fourth ranked opponent of the season, No. 22/24 Oklahoma State. Tip-off at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
